Hanifin and Tanev to be traded in separate deals, probably elsewhere. One must giveth in order to ge-ge...getteth? (receiveth, yes)

Devils acquire Jacob Markstrom and Rasmus Andersson, 50% retention on Markstrom's contract. Andersson's ceiling may not be as high as that of Nemec, but for the next year or two or three, he may be a more well-rounded option to back up Hamilton once he returns, possible late April/early May? The Devils still hold cap space to make depth moves for their bottom six. Daws has been playing pretty decently, just looking at his numbers for the year, so hopefully the Devils can offload Vanecek sometime this year or perhaps the offseason, somehow. Also considered throwing in Kevin Rooney*, as he is a reasonably efficient 4th line center. Would have helped with the depth. But anyway.

Markstrom - Vanecek/Daws

Siegenthaler - Andersson
Hughes - Marino
Bahl - Smith

Then playoff time:

Siegenthaler - Hamilton
Hughes - Andersson
Smith/Bahl - Marino

Bratt - Hughes - Toffoli
Palat - Hischier - Holtz
Meier - Haula - Lazar
Tierney - Nosek - Bastian/Clarke
(or Nosek - Rooney - Lazar)*


The Flames do retain 50% on Markstrom, but in exchange for that, plus selling Andersson, the Devils give up both Dawson Mercer and Simon Nemec to Calgary's re-tool. Plus a 2025 1st round pick, engineered to likely be later in the round for the Devils next season than this one, helping both them and Calgary, within the structure of the deal (Calgary could use a "for-sure" 2025 1st round pick), and goalie Akira Schmid, faring far worse than Nico Daws of the Devils' youngsters, ripe for Calgary to play and grow in the AHL while Wolf and Vladar tandem in the NHL.

Wolf - Vladar

Hanifin - Tanev
Weegar - Nemec
Kylington - Pachal

Huberdeau - Sharangovich - Kuzmenko
Zary - Kadri - Mercer
Mangiapane - Backlund - Coleman
Hunt - Rooney - Pospisil
(or Hunt - Schwindt - Pospisil)*

This gives the Flames options up front for sure, unfortunately in this case forcing either Pospisil to the 4th line, or if the 2nd and 3rd lines stay intact, forcing Sharangovich to the 4th line, which is a no go given how he's played.

Cue the Kadri to Colorado rumors please. We'll take Johansen back to help with the cap hit.

Devils fans will instantly hate this one.

Nemec is untouchable

100% get the sentiment, but I would counter with how much more comfortable Markstrom would be on the Devils, especially with their D, with Andersson coming with him. You could get a far better Markstrom than one who would have to learn each and every player's tendencies from scratch. Small matter I suppose, but does count toward something. And you'd have a guy in Andersson who could communicate between his partner(s) and Markstrom as well, knowing each other.

I rather have a 20 year old potential franchise defensemen than a 34 year old goalie

Of course, that's a fine argument. Andersson isn't a slouch, though. The deal is absolutely based on the Devils going for gold the next few seasons, but Fitzgerald may rightly not want to sacrifice it all for the next few years.

Wouldn't trade Nemec for that package by himself. He's probably better then Andersson next season devils have a very long window that is just opening no need to throw half of it away on a 34 year old goalie and 27 year old D

This is insulting. Nemec alone is worth a lot more than Anderson and Markstrom.

Nemec at 900k for the next 3 years provides more value than Andersson and Markstrom at 8 million.